PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

IRC is seeking a Project Manager to support the work of the IRC Client Responsiveness team and the implementation of the Empower to Enable (E2E) BHA funded project component. The E2E project is designed to empower front-line staff to enable the participation of crisis-affected people in the design and delivery of humanitarian assistance. Under the supervision of Client Responsiveness Director, the post holder will be responsible to lead on the E2E project management  and donor reporting to ensure timely high-quality delivery of all project components. She/he works collaboratively with Client Responsiveness Technical Specialists to manage Client Responsiveness resource kit updates and translation to strengthen the capacity of country programme teams, and promote Client Responsiveness goals through communication, case studies and other relevant products.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

E2E Project Management

• Ensure the planning and the management of the E2E project component and be responsible for successful project delivery.
•  Ensure smooth management and integration of project work plans and budgets (budget forecasting, development of spending plans and budget follow-up), timely recruitment, and accurate reporting.
• Coordinate the logistic and administrative organization of the project activities and events
• Organize and oversee the monitoring for the project as per the MEAL plan and indicators specified in the technical narrative (incl. tools for data collection, indicator tracking, and analysis)
• Lead on coordination and liaison with Client Responsiveness team, internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely high-quality reporting to BHA throughout project implementation and close out
• Draft project activity and donors’ reports in a timely manner.

Client Responsiveness resource kit

• Lead the process of updating the resources, tools and learning materials based on learning and coordination with other technical units
•  Increase usability and benefit of existing CR tools and guidance to specific target groups, donor requirements and/or sectors.

Communication and information management

• Lead on the communication and product dissemination strategy for the E2E project
•  Regularly communicate with internal and external project stakeholders.
• Coordinate planning, agenda setting and reporting for the Project Advisory Committee meetings
• Support presentation of the project activities for internal and external audience.
• Develop communication briefs, updates, and learnings to internal and external dissemination.

Key Working Relationships:

• The Client Responsiveness Manager reports into the Director Client Responsiveness and works closely with the Client Responsiveness Technical Specialists and other colleagues in the Governance Technical Unit.
• Internally, the post holder works closely with BHA project team, the MEAL and Country Progtramme senior management participating in the project.
• Externally, the post holder nurture relationships with Project Advisory Committee, provide project updates to the inter-agency platforms, other relevant external platforms.

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations, Project Management or in any other relevant discipline. A masters’ degree in any relevant field is an added advantage

Work experience:

• 3-5 years of consistent proven and successful experience of project management, specific experience in AAP will be added advantage
•  Demonstrated understanding of project management in a similar role/with similar responsibilities in a humanitarian or development context.
• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills.

Skills and Competences:

• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time
•  Strong analytic problem solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite, online meeting and survey tools is an asset
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.
• Excellent communication,  presentation and writing skills.
•  Good written and spoken Spanish or French is an added-value

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Client Responsiveness Specialist is responsible for developing and delivering technical support plans, guidance and tools to achieve IRC’s strategic ambition of Client-Centred Programming. She/he works collaboratively with senior management in regions and country programmes to identify technical support and resource priorities to strengthen the capacity of country programme teams, identify staffing and budgeting approaches to institutionalize Client-Centered Programming and promote Client Responsiveness goals. The post holder contributes to building out new approaches and leading on some of the priority strategic workstreams. She/he will also contribute to the implementation of a two-year BHA funded project geared towards empowering front line staff to enable participation of crisis-affected people in the design and delivery of humanitarian assistance.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The Client Responsiveness Specialist reports into the Director, Client Responsiveness and works closely with the other Client Responsiveness Technical Specialist(s) and a Project Manager in the Client Responsiveness Team and other colleagues from the Governance Technical Unit and across Technical Excellence, as well as the Emergency and Humanitarian Action Unit (EHAU).

Internally, the post holder works closely with senior management in Country Programmes and Regions, key staff in Technical Units and Strategic Initiatives, and the Measurement Unit. 

Externally, the post holder seeks to develop relationships with peer agencies working on related thematic areas, with specialist think tanks and consultancies, and relevant network bodies.

SCOPE AND AUTHORITY

The Client Responsiveness Specialist has authority and responsibility for:

• Developing and delivering regional implementation plans for Client-Centered Programming.
•  Providing technical support to country teams to institutionalize Client Centered Programming and advance IRC’s strategic priority in this area.
• Contributing to the implementation of a two-year BHA funded project to empower front-line staff to enable participation of crisis-affected people.
• Contributing to the further development of the resource kit, tools and trainings on Client Responsiveness / Client Centered Programming.
• Contributing to integrate Client Centered Programming into existing IRC’s business and decision-making processes.
• Coordinating and communicating internally to promote coherence between the Clients Ambition and the work of other units.
• Representing the IRC’s work and policy positions on Client Centered Programming and Accountability to Affected Populations amongst external stakeholders.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Provide technical support to Country Programmes to achieve S100 Client Ambition:

•  Develop and implement technical support plans in coordination with Regional Measurement Advisors, in a manner that is responsive to demands from country teams and identified gaps in their knowledge and practice.
•  Provide quality technical support on Client Responsiveness, support development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), country program level feedback plans, multi-sector satisfaction surveys, training and on-boarding of new and existing staff; budgeting and staffing approaches.
• Provide support to include client perspectives in Country Program Strategic Action Plans (SAP) and SAP – Implementation Plans.

Support the development and implementation of IRC Strategic Client Ambition

•  Contribute to the implementation of the Clients Ambition phase 1 priorities, through supporting consultations across the organization, particularly country programme staff, and leading on the development of relevant approaches, tools and guidance for implementation at country program level.
•  Proactively collaborate with other teams to ensure alignment of the approach with other broad organizational priorities, initiatives and work-streams for the country support.
• Contribute to further develop and disseminate the resource kit on Client Responsiveness and facilitate peer learning among countries and regions
• Collaborate with other units to promote coherence with and integrate Client Centered Programming in their own work
• Collect and share learning from country programs in the form of case studies, reports, briefing notes and blogs.

Support the implementation of the “Empower to Enable” (E2E) two-year project

•  Provide technical support and oversight for the development and field testing of the Learning Report and the E2E Toolkit
•  Ensure technical inputs for the development of the project’s product as well as convening and facilitating the Project Advisory Committee meetings
• Develop the content and support the facilitation of the Project Kick off meeting, the two Learning and Development Workshops and the Global and Regional Dialogue Events
• Provide technical support to the two country teams piloting the project’s product.
• Facilitate the dissemination of the products and learning generated through this project through AAP networks and national and international organizations.
• Coordinate with the Project Manager to ensure timely high-quality deliverables on the project

Job Requirements:

Work experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience designing, implementing and supporting client feedback mechanisms and working on Accountability to Affected Population within Humanitarian and/or Development programs
•  A proven track record with at least 3 years of field-based experience working in developing, fragile and conflict affected countries
• Prior experience providing technical advisory support and trainings, remote and face to face
• Experience in working across sectors or disciplines
• Experience with data management, visualization and interpretation

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Strong analytical, presentation, organizational and problem-solving skills
•  Demonstrated expertise in program design, monitoring and evaluation and program adaptation
• Experience in project management
• Ability to work within a team with a track record of collaborating across disciplines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English
• Active listening skills and ability to work with colleagues from different cultures and contexts.
• Education: Master’s/post-graduate degree in public administration, public policy, political science, international development, economics, statistics or other relevant field.
• Language Skills:  Fluency in English is required, working knowledge of Arabic, French or Spanish is strongly preferred.

Preferred experience & skills:

• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time
•  Strong analytic and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite, CommCare and PowerBI is an asset
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

Job Overview/Summary:

The IRC is seeking a Research Manager to support the IRC Institutional Review Board and research systems infrastructure.  The position will also provide support to the roll-out and uptake of the IRC’s humanitarian research toolkit and standards and establishment of new data security, management, and open-data systems.  This position is one year in duration, with the opportunity for extension, dependent on funding.

Major Responsibilities:

•  Fulfill all functions of the IRB Administrator, including:
  •  Conducting administrative reviews of research protocols, including modifications, continuing reviews (approval extensions), and project closures. Determining whether the protocols will go to full board, or whether they qualify for expedited or exempt status (to be approved by the IRB chair)
  • Providing guidance to research teams on the IRB application process
  • Planning monthly IRB meeting and checking for quorum
  • Coordinating the assignment of primary reviewers
  • Drafting decision letters
  • Training new IRB board members
  • Update the IRB protocol tracker and inform research teams of upcoming deadlines / expirations
  • Serve as a focal point for the IRC IRB and Innovation Ethics
  • Conducting reviews of innovation ethics forms submitted by study team
  • Having discussions and/or email exchanges with study teams to identify required modifications
• Oversee the roll-out and uptake of the IRC humanitarian research toolkit and quality assurance standards, including providing trainings to country team members on the toolkit, research methodologies, study designs, and analysis as part of the toolkit roll-out. Ensure all new research team members are onboarded on the toolkit and standards.
• Develop and oversee the establishment of data privacy and management systems, including organizational readiness for supporting open-access data.
• Provide ad hoc support to ongoing studies or strategic research portfolio support as needed, such as qualitative or quantitative data analysis or training support, or the development of business development materials
• Support administrative related tasks within the research community of practice

Job Requirements:

• Education: University degree in economics, political science, or other related field to humanitarian research
• Work Experience: Bachelor degree with 2-3 years of work experience in research on topics related to the humanitarian or economic sector.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Deep attention to detail
• Knowledge of research ethics principles
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to be flexible and coordinate across multiple Priorities and workstreams.
• Experience organizing and implementing data collection trainings and quality assurance processes for studies
• Basic research analysis skills including descriptive data analyses, data cleaning, and qualitative coding approaches
• Outstanding communication and coordination capabilities and capability to operate independently and as a team member. Excellent writing skills required.